Dream of the Rush Gatherer

Katsushika Hokusai (Japanese, 1760-1849)

The young woman wears the distinctive dress-indigo blue kimono, white apron, hand covers and leggings, and a towel over her hair-of women from the mountain village of Ohara, who carried on their heads bundles of brushwood, firewood, flowers and the like to sell in Kyoto.

As she dozes, she dreams of Harugoma, or Spring-horse, dancers. At the start of the year, Harugoma performers would go from door to door to drive away evil and invite good fortune to each household.

Its style places this painting in the early 1800s, when the artist called himself "Sōri" and before he took the name Hokusai.

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